Ribbon-holder



(No Model.) I

J. A. GRANT.

RIBBON HOLDER.

No. 395,701. Patented Jan. 8 1889.

'dziivmsszs '7 7B /mm/ niTED STATES ATENT FFICE.

JAMES A. GRANT, OF MOUNT PLEASANT, IOlVA.

RiBBON HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,701, dated January 8, 1889. Application filed October 30, 1888. Serial No. 28 9,516. (No model.)

usefulImprovement in Ribbon-Holders, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustratingthe improvement, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective of a roll or spool of ribbon havingmy invention attached thereto, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in a detached position.

I am aware that devices have been constructed and used for holding the outer end of a ribbon (when wound on a roll or spool) in proper shape and position for handling and unwinding the same as desired for use, which devices consist of a wire having its ends bent: at right angles, and the outer or end sections curved sidewise, corresponding with each other, forming either segments of circles or otherwise bent sidewise in angular shape in the form of elbows, which are pivoted to attachments fastenedto the ends of a ribbon roll or spool in such manner as to cause the connecting center straight section thereof to press against the periphery of said roll and thereby prevent the ribbon from unwinding therefrom; but said devices are objectionable, owing to their liability to become twisted out of shape, so as to bind and thereby hinder free unwinding of the ribbon, as they have no means of holding their respective sides in uniform position. Other mechanism has also been employed for holdin the loose end of a ribbon to the periphery of a 1'ollsuch as loops, in combination with attachments at the respective ends of a ribbon-spool, all of which partake of like objections.

The object of my invention is to provide a ribbon-holder that will adjust itself to any reasonable-sized roll, so as to concentrically press against its periphery in a manner that will hold the outer end of a wound ribbon from prematurely unwinding, and which will also adjust itself freely without twisting and catching on the ends of a ribbon-roll in unwinding therefrom.

My invention consists in forming the concentrically-adjusting ends of a ribbon-holder of wire so bent as to form yielding supports thereto, which will hold the respective ends in relative un ilorm position wit h each other, and which holders are susceptible of being read1ly shifted or changed from one ribbon roll or spool (as ordinarily prepared for the market) to another by simply piercing small holes at the axis in the paper ends or spools of said rolls as a means of: insertinthe pivotal points of said holder therein.

In the further description similar letters will indicate like parts throughout and dotted lincs parts hidden from view.

A refers to the end of a paper spool 011 which ribbons are usually wound, orpaper end of a ribbon-bolt.

B are curved springs formed of wire, being extensions from the straight sections l3, they being bent sidewisc at nearly right angles from the respective straight sections B at the points of startingsaid curved spring-sections. Eachof said curved tions terminates in a series of coils, 71, which are wound loosely around the respective straight sections B, so that said coils will slide freely endwise on said straightsections and from said coils. The ends of the wire are bent so as to point inward, (as relates to the respective ends of the holder,) and the terminal ends K are bent or curved slightly sidewise as a means of preventing them from c; sily backing out of or becoming detached from the perforations in said paper endsA after havingbecn inserted therein. The respective straight sections ll are also extensions from the central straight section, 3", which spans the bolt or roll of ribbon endwise, as will be observed. All of said parts are made of one continuous wire, and

the sections B are made to stand at rightan gles with the central section, B".

A plate, 0, having a longitudinal slot, 6, in it, is fastened to the central or spanning section, B", by means of loops (7, which may be formed of small strips cut from the back end corners of said plate and bent forward over said wire, or itmay be fastened otherwise, or the central section, 13", may be cut out and the end sections fastened rigidly to the ends of the plate (1; but the former method is preferable, as it secures greater elasticity and strength to the device. The slot e serves as a guide for retaining the ribbon in proper place while passing through it in unwinding from the roll or spool.

The operation of the device is as follows: Small apertures having been made centrally in the ends of the paper spools upon which the ribbon is wound or paper ends of a rib- 5 bon roll, the terminal points K are sprung apart, so as to enter said apertures, when, by means of the curves or bends in said points, they will permit said spool to rotate on them without their springing out of said apertures. The outer end of the ribbon f is then placed through the slot 6 from the under side, with the loose en d extending outward t'or unwinding it. Said extended end is caught by one hand of the operator, while with the other hand the holder is grasped with the thumb and one finger, holdin g it firmly at its respective ends, when by extending the arms the ribbon is drawn out or unwound for use by means of the spool rotating on the pivotal points K. The end of the ribbon left or remaining on the spool is held in place by means of the concentric pressure thereon of the plate C, caused by the tension of the springs B, and owing to said curved springs being arranged so as to lie in planes corresponding with and close to the ends A of the spool, and their yielding ends having sliding connectiol'ls with the straight sections B, near the pivots K, through which said sections oscillate in adjusting to suit different-sized rolls of ribbons. Said curved springs with their attachments serve as guides and stays to prevent the holder from becoming twisted on the spool or ribbon-roll by means of their expanded form being in a similar plane close to the ends of the ribbonspool and of the sliding connections serving as braces to hold the several parts in proper position, thereby preventing hinderance to the rotating of the spool in unwinding the ribbon.

Having thus fully described my invention so as to be understood by others, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A ribbon-holder consisting of a pair of curved springs, B, formed on the inner ends of straight radial sections B and arranged to lie in planes close to and corresponding with the ends of a ribbon-spool when attached, with their yielding ends provided with coils h, loosely surrounding the sections B, and the inward-pointing pivot-points K being coupled together by a straight section, B", all constructed of one continuous wire, in combination with a ribbon roll or spool, substantially as shown, for the purposes specified.

2. A ribbon-holder consisting of a pair of curved springs, B, formed on the inner ends of straight radial sections B and arranged to lie in planes close to and corresponding with the ends of a ribbon-spool when attached, with their yielding ends provided with coils h, loosely surrounding the sections B and the inward-pointingpivot-points K being coupled together by a straight section, B", all constructedof one continuous wire, with a plate, 0, provided with a longitudinal slot, 6, and fastened to the section B in combination wit-h a ribbon roll or spool, substantially as shown, for the purposes specified.

JAMES A. GRANT.

Witnesses:

W. E. KEELER, HARRY J'. TWINTING. 

